Did you know that store-bought bottled cleaners are mostly water? Every year the makers of cleaning fluids (like S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc, makers of Windex) transport millions of pounds of water in the form of cleaning solutions. As a result, many companies are now starting to think about selling refill concentrate pouches to cut down on commodity and fuel costs, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. But while refills are widely used in Europe (where landfills aren't as abundant), American consumers just haven't caught on to the idea, and in fact, as one consultant said, "refills have had mostly five decades of failure." What gives?
Companies are on a hunt to find ways to convince customers that the "inconvenience and potential mess of pouring cleaners from a refill bag into the original bottle is worth it." But in addition to the perceived inconvenience of a refill pouch, American consumers are also put off by the aesthetic properties of refills, i.e. those floppy plastic bags that look messy on store shelves.
• Read the full article at The Wall Street Journal. Subscription required.
Do you use refills? Do you know people who don't or won't?
(Image: Method)
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To understand this we must understand the psychology of the consumer mindset. In graduate school a researcher presented studies which show that we do what we see others doing. If you're at a lake getaway, and all your friends are using reuseable travel mugs, you'd better bet you'll feel horrified unless you have one too. And if all your friends use plastic bottles, you'll feel less shy about using one yourself. In other words, we have to kick-start the trend or it's never going to take off.
As for me? I'm disgusted with 99 percent of companies right now so we grow our own food and make our own cleaners, sans ANY container, whenever possible.
We just bought two refills last night since they had a pretty good sale at Target.
This issue is one of the things that stands out to me when watching shows like Extreme Couponing, or hearing people talk about couponing. They'll say get the trial size if you can so then it's free. Or the coupon's for the original pump hand wash, so get that, not the less-waste refill. They don't really talk about weighing getting something for free vs. causing more waste.
You'd think with how money-conscious people are being now, they'd be snatching up the refills. They are soo much cheaper than buying the original all over. I wish shampoo came in these kinds of refills, I don't need to keep throwing shampoo pumps in the recycle bin.
indian consumers are majorly used to refills (pens included)...it would be great to see refill in the US...older pens, soap containers, bath products...all need to come in refills..its another thing about selling concentrates...we as consumers can always add water :P..and yes, packaging these refills needs to be thought out as well
We mostly make our own cleaners, but for the stuff we buy (like hand soap) - I buy the Method brand with the refills. Makes so much more sense than a new container each time.
I also agree with ANoney - I wish my shampoo & conditioner came in the same refillable pouches.
It really comes down to cost. Most of the time, the original item is what goes on sale or has a coupon so it's going to be cheaper than the refill. The last time I shopped for Method laundry detergent, the smaller bottles were on sale - it would have been cheaper to buy 2 small bottles than the larger one OR the refill. If it's so much cheaper for companies to produce refill packages, then that should be reflected in the cost to the consumer, too.
Americans are ruled by their wallets, not by "doing the right thing".
If you make the refills incredibly cheaper compared to buying a "comparibly-sized" bottled product, they will switch.
I think the problem is pricing! Every time I've ever seen a refill, it's actually been MORE per unit volume than the regular container (even taking in to account concentrates). Seems to me that manufacturers (or stores) are trying to exploit people for trying to be greener.
I try to buy the refills as often as I can. Mostly because its not always convenient to drive to the store whenever I run out of cleaner or hand soap. Plus, having those pump-dispenser soaps in just ASKING for trouble when you have little kids who like to play in closets. The screw-top stuff just seems to be less appealing.
Last year I actually bought a $30 bottle of soap...just to have the bottle! I never used to do refills; I just always recycled the old bottle and bought a new one. But now I have the ultimate bottle and if I must refill it to keep it on the counter, than refill it I shall. Nothing in my bathroom makes me happier than seeing that bottle...it's just such a great bottle...everybody that visits my bathroom agrees.
The point is, if you want people to use a refill, give them something they want to keep and refill.
I've actually never seen refills like this. I would definitely use them if I saw them.
I exclusively buy Method refills for hand soap, but outside of Method, I don't recall seeing other refill pouches.
I agree with Candice about buying Method just for the refills.
And Emmi, I am a grad student in consumer behavior, and I wrote my undergrad thesis on whether people act "green" because they care or just to look good in front of others. Turns out, it's a little of both, but doing it in front of others definitely helps.
I prefer refill pouches/packages for the products I use not only for the green aspect but for storage as well. A concentrated refill bottle of cleaner takes up a LOT less space then the 7 or 8 constituted bottles of the same product.
I'd love for more of the products I use to be available as refills - and especially concentrates.
I say don't give consumers a choice:
Sell the refill along with an empty full-size container; stick them together somehow on the shelf. That way, the consumer has to mix the concentrate and water into the full-size container from the get-go.
Also, don't give them the option to buy a full bottle. Only sell the refill + empty bottle pack.
I love the method refill bags. I recently learned that you can dilute the gel hand soap to make the foaming version. it is SO much cheaper this way, and I do feel better about not buying the dispensers time and time again. I have had dispensers die on me, but I've had the current set in our house for well over 2 years. its a lot of refils
@Omoriala - wow, I'd like to hear more about your thesis. If you have time, please stop by my blog
http://emmiscafe.wordpress.com/
The thing is, buying refills is hard for people living paycheck-to-paycheck. It may sometimes be cheaper to buy the refills, but they tend to be sold in larger, "bulk" amounts, so even if it's cheaper per unit (and this isn't always the case), you still have to spend more money at that time. Sure, you're getting more product, but I can't always afford to buy a 4 month supply of hand soap when I'm shopping. However, I can usually afford to get the tiny $1 bottle of generic whatever from the dollar store.
@Confounded I live paycheck to paycheck too, so I sympathize. Trust me, you are not saving money by buying a tiny bottle from the dollar store. Some stores sell in bulk. Even better, buy soap from a local seller who does not use packaging. It saves both the product maker and you, lots of money.
My mom always refilled our soap dispensers back home... we never bought new ones. She bought the giant bottle of off-brand refill. She wasn't doing it for the environment, she was doing it because it was thrifty. This is something I learned to do, and I was shocked that other people just threw the old ones out and bought a brand new one for more money. Now, if they were to give her the option to buy a much smaller bottle that you add water to and made it just as affordable (or more affordable- as it would, in theory, cost the company less to produce), she would use that.
I remember my dad having the HUGE gallon-sized bottle of Dr. Bronner's under the sink in the bathroom. He would dilute it as needed for handsoap that he mixed in a container that he probably had for 10 years before I was born. That bottle of Dr. Bronner's probably lasted him 15 years. This might be the extreme but it goes to show you that if you invest properly, using refills is actually cheaper in the long run.
Cripes, the refill looks like it uses more plastic than the original product. Why can't we just refill the containers at the store using our own jars??
love refills, you get way more for a better price. doesnt make sense not to get the refills. i will use my original bottle til it breaks, the spray nozzles tend to go after a while, then i have to purchase the bottle again (my dad yelled at me for putting it in a non labeled plastic spray bottle)
@Emmi - you can do these at small "green" shops in the UK - and even at the massive whole foods in Camden - for lots of Ecover (and some other) products.
I bought a liquid soap refill pouch a long time ago. I bought it because it was economical, used less packaging, and I use a pretty soap dispenser anyway. It is really easy to refill my pump bottle out of the pouch. I will by another when I use the first one up. I would definitely buy more refills and wish there were things I could buy refills for.
@AnnabelVita - thanks for the info - why is every country seemingly ahead of America? LOL - we have a lot of catching up to do!
Refills also assume you're buying the same brand over time. I have no brand loyalty when it comes to stuff like soap and laundry detergent, I buy what's cheapest at that moment which I think is what most people do. I have a handful of favourite shampoo and conditioner and rotate among them based on price. I had only ONE CHOICE of laundry detergent, then sure I would buy the refills, but I don't - I have 20 options. Sure I could put other detergent in a different container, but I hate not knowing what is in what bottle.
We use a number of Method products because it is one of the few brands with a "no stink" option as well as refills. The no stink version is a hassle to find and the refills are too. We usually order them on bulk of amazon.com or special order a case from Whole Foods.
But you know, people shouldn't have to buy an 18m month supply or hand soap or toilet paper to get the brand they want in a non-stink variety. And that is pretty much of the opposite of paycheck-to-paycheck living.
I would use them. I already buy refills for my pump soap dispenser, but they come in jugs.